Spring attachment for suspenders, &amp;c.



UNITED STATES PATENT @EETGE.

SPRING ATTACHMENT FOR SUSPENDERS, 81.0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed February 28, 1906. Serial No. 303,462.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL E. Wm'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring Attachments for Suspenders, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to spring attachments or resilient connections ofthe type designed to be employed as a substitute for the elastic mediumusually embodied in wearing ap arel and analogous articles.

n carrying out the above general object, the invention has in view theprovision of a spring attachment or resilient connection possessingspecial utility as a connection for suspender ends, while at the sametime of such a construction as to be capable of practical use for otherpur oses where it is desirable to employ a res] ient connectionproviding a free and lively spring action, while at the same timepermitting of selfadjust ment to various positions under stress exertedat different angles. Also, the invention contemplates, in a springattachment or resilient connection of these qualities, one which shallalso possess great durability and strength so as to insure reliabilityin service and action.

To this end the invention specially contemplates a practical improvementin the type of spring attachment or resilient connections disclosed inmy series of former patents Nos. 692,041, 692,042, and 692,096, datedJanuary 28, 1902.

A further object of the invention is to improve the retaining means forthe fast end of the attaching elements, and also to provide improvedmeans for connecting the spring attachment with a suspender end topermit of perfect freedom of movement in any and all directions.

The essential features of the invention may be structurally changedwithout departing from the scope thereof, but a preferred embodiment ofthe improvement contemplated herein is shown-in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spring attachment constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown applied to the front endof a non-elastic suspender strap. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing moreplainly the manner of loosely hanging the duplex spring-coil member uponthe fastener stud of the cast-otl', and exposing the spiral duplexspring-coil member. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showingthe improved spring attachment applied to the rear or back end of a pairof suspenders. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the duplex spring-coil membershowing the separate spiral coils pulled open or distorted for thepurpose of disclosing more clearly the formation of the separate coilsfrom a common core or center coil. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view ofthe duplex coil in its normally closed condition showing the pair ofseparate flat spiral coils arranged side by side in arallel relation andspirally formed from t 1e core or center outward. Figs. 6 and 7 aredetails in perspective of the fast end of an attaching element or cordillustrating the referred way of forming the retaining hea or buttonthereon.

Like references designate corresponding arts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

The leading and distinctive feature of the present invention resides inthe construction of the spring wire body, designated, in the drawings,in its entirety, by the numeral 1. This spring wire body preferablyconsists of a single length of spring wire of suitable strength andweight, and in shaping the same to a form adapted for the purposes intended, the wire length or strand is provided at a oint between its endswith a plurality of spirally arranged spiral convolutions forming whatmay be properly characterized as a duplex spring-coil member 2 which isollset laterally from the main length of the wire strand and is intendedto increase the resiliency of the wire body, and at the same time servesto cause said body to entirely resume its original set when beingcompletely relieved of stress or strain.

It is important to note in connection with the centrally located, andlaterally offset, spring-coil member 2, that the latter embodies a pairof flat spiral spring-coils 3 arranged side by side in a normallyparallel relation and having a common core or center coil 4. Thisconstruction of spring-coil is plainly shown in detail, in Figs. 1 and 5of the drawings, and it will be observed that the spiral convolutions ofthe separate springcoils 3 wind respectively in reverse or oppositedirections to those of the companion coil, while at the same time,inboth of the flat spiral coils, it will be noted that the same areformed spirally from the core or center outward. This is important froma mechanical standpoint, inasmuch as such construction divides'thetension or stress from the middle outward, so that in bending, the outerconvolutions'being the larger or longer ones, take most of the stressand reduce the possibility of breakage to a minimum. Furthermore, thisconstruction of duplex spring-coil gives perfectly reliable results,whereas other forms of springs heretofore constructed for similarpurposes could not be so thoroughly relied upon, as it is ordinarilyimpossible to tell the perfect from the imperfect springs on account ofthe spring wire being uncertain in temper and tensity in places. Thesedifficulties are obviated where the duplex spiral spring-coil member ismade by separate flat spiral spring-coils arranged in registeringparallel planes, side by side. It should be further observed inconnection with the construction of duplex coil claimed herein, thatinasmuch as the center convolutions are usually comparatively short andrigid, the stress or strain is necessarily graduated owing to theformation of the spring from the center outward, thereby insuring greatflexibility and durability, and besides the possibility of breakage isreduced to the lowest possible minimum. h

In addition to the central duplex spiral spring-coil member 2, thespring wire body 1 is provided with oppositely extending yielding sidearms 5 constituting continuations or extensions of the outermostconvolutions or coils of each ofthe separate spiral springcoils 3. Thesaid opposite side arms 5 are preferably straight and disposed in theirnormal positions at approximately right angles to the transverse planeof the laterally ofl'set duplex coil member 2. These side arms aredesigned to carry at their terminals antifriction guides 6 of somesuitable form. These guides serve to loosely and freely carry theflexible attaching element or elements 7 which afford a connectionbetween the spring wire body and the pantaloons or other object to beyieldingly held fastened or supported.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, separateattaching elements 7 are employed, and the same are illustrated asoppositely reeved, but arranged in parallel relation to each other andto the yielding side arms 5 between the oppositely located anti-frictionguides 6. Each separate attaching element or cord 7 has a fastconnection at one end with a holding collar or element 8 convenientlycarried by and forming a member of one of the anti-friction uides 6, andloosely running through the fiaredrmouthed sleeve 9 of the anti-frictionguide 6 at the terminal of the opposite arm 5. .This provides meanswhereby a uniform direct pull or stress may be exerted upon theterminals of both of the side arms of the spring wire body.

In carrying out the invention, it is desirable to provide that portionof the attaching element or cord 7, running through the guiding sleeve9, with a coating or application 10 of paraffin or other suitablelubricant to prevent abrasion or wearing out of the cord as it movesbackward and forward through the eye. This part of the invention may becarried out by applying hot parafiin to the cord or attaching elementthereby saturating the cord or element with the lubricant to such anextent that it is not appreciably noticeable, while at the same timesecuring the lubricating functions desired.

Each of the attaching elements or cords 7 is provided at one end withthe usual tab or loop 11 for connection with the article of wear, andthe present invention contemplates an improvement in the means for making the fast or retaining connection between one end of each attachingelement and the stress point 8 for the spring arm. Without employingmetal parts for effecting this connection, it is proposed by thisinvention to first fray an end of the attaching element as indicated bythe numeral 12 in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and then apply to such frayedend enamel, or a suitable cement. This material will thoroughly saturatethe frayed end 12, and when the latter is partially dry, the same iscompressed to form a hard retaining head or button 13 preferably ofshouldered forma tion which will be securely held in the collar orelement 8 to form positive securing means preventing the element or cordfrom pulling out.

In the application of the invention, it is preferable to employ the samein a way to prevent wear upon the clothing, especially when used withthe form of suspenders illustrated in the drawings. For instance, asshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the number 14 designates the front endportion of an ordinary suspender strap having fitted thereto a loopedcast-off 15, the separate members of which are separably connected by afastener 16 which includes a headed stud 17 over which the spring-coilmember 2 is loosely hung. I/Vhen thus applied, the spring body hasperfect freedom of movement while at the same time being housed withinthe castoff 15. Also, in the arrangement shown in the drawings, in Fig.3 the numeral 14 designates the back of a pair of suspenders, to the endof which is connected a 100 ed suspender end 18, the side portions of wich are connected by a supporting rivet 19 over which is hung the coilmember 2, thereby providing for the pivotal support of such coil memberwhile at the same time serving to completely house the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manyadvantages of the herein described spring attachment, will be readilyapparent Without further description, and it will be understood thatchanges in the form, proportion and minor details of description may beresorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. A spring attachment of the class described, comprising a spring wirebody provided with a pair of parallel springcoils arranged side by sideand having a common core or center coil, said spring wire body carryingattaching elements.

2. A spring attachment of the class described, comprising a spring wirebody carrying attaching elements and provided with a plurality ofparallel spiral spring-coils having a common center coil and theconvolutions of both of which coils are formed outwardly from saidcenter coil.

3. A spring attachment of the class described, comprising a spring wirebody carrying attaching elements and provided with a pair of spiral flatspring coils arranged side by side in parallel planes and having acommon center coil, said separate spring-coil being wound in reversedirections, but having their convolutions formed outwardly from thecommon center coil.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the bodyhaving a holding element, of an attaching element consisting of a cordprovided with an unraveled, hardened and compressed retaining head orbutton.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

PAUL E. XVIRT.

l/Vitnesses:

ESTHER ABBOTT, WV. D. BEOKLEY.

